Origins of the Cold War

Remember, your source can be represented in a number of different ways: youtube clips, poems, quotes by famous people of the time. The major criteria is that is must be reliable, credible and trustworthy. (See the assignments page for examples/template).



Group 1

Nationalism and Imperialism


Find quality sources on these items:

The role of nationalism in the USSR or US after the war, The US fear of the spread of communism, Define Imperialism using examples such as the Soviet Bloc countries, The US imperialist advances in Vietnam or Latin America, Soviet imperial advances in Afghanistan.


NAME: Spencer Vandermeer
Headline: Communism
Link: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0112205/coldwar.html

1. Quality of source
The website is done by students who have done research projects about the cold war, some of the information may be incorrect; however from what I have read, the information that is posted is correct and a reasonably reliable source.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source
a)it discusses capitalism against communism, b) marshall plan and truman doctrine,c) germany and the cold war.
those are the most important aspects.

3. Why I Chose this Source
a) i chose this source because it gives a complete overview on the cold war, its quality imformation and well organized.
Name: Riley Weldon

Headline: Communism: The Greatest Fear of the US.
Link: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/lessons/usa194180/communism.shtml

Quality of Source:
1. This is a quality source, because it provides multiple facts on the fear of communism and the reasons behind it this includes: Breakdown of relations, growing fears, hysteria, and mccarthyism. This is also backed by the English heritage national monuments records. It breaks down each section and gives you detailed information on each individual section.

Aspects of this Source:
a) Part of the reason that the U.S. fears the spread of communism is the breakdown of relations. At the end of world war two the USA and USSR controlled a portion of Europe. The US feared that the USSR would try to invade, bringing communism with them. Essentially the relation between the USSR and the US was broken down due to the US's fear of communism spreading.

b) The fear of the USSR would continue to grow throughout the cold war. The Berlin Blockade was one of these fears. Communism had essentially cut off supplies to the US part of berlin: starving the population. Communist North Korea would also invade South Korea ; another symbol that communism was not only spreading, but invading.

c) The hysteria in the US increased and eventually people who were suspected of being "communist". Hysteria would continue to increase throughout the cold war and important political figures would be imprisoned for suspicion.

Why I Chose This Source:
a) This source allows you to see many reasons to the US's fear. It also presented it in a mind map fashion, a more simplistic method. It was also a very credible source (as backed by English Heritage National Monuments Records).


NAME: Kelsey Renwick
Headline:McCarthyism and Communism
Link: **http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/arthur-miller/mccarthyism/484/**

1. Quality of source
This is a quality source because PBS is considered to be a well-known broadcasting company. PBS is a copyrighted company that displays and shows educational topics.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source
a. Joseph McCarthy made a public accusation that many communists had been given access to the United States government and could potentially take over. His accusations were untrue at the time.

b. McCarthyism became known as the hunt for infiltrating communists, many people who got accused were in fact not communists. These people were forced to go to public trials and often their careers as an artist was destroyed because of the single wrong accusation.

c. Three hundred and twenty artists were black listed and no one in the press was willing to stand up to McCarthy as his views on anti-communism were to strong making many other citizens believe in it as well.

3. Why I Chose this Source
a. I chose this source because its information came from PBS broadcasting, which is a popular well-known company and can be trusted for accurate information. The information was clearly stated and summed up the issue about McCarthyism that occurred in the US throughout the 1940s – 1950’s. The piece was easy to read and understand its main concept.


Name: Mark Manakorkiert
Headline: McCarthyism
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism

1) Quality of Source
This is a quality source because Wikipedia is well-known throughout the world and many people use it to gather information.

2) Important Aspects of This Source
a. Joseph McCarthy produced a piece of paper which he claimed contained a list of known Communists working for the State Department. McCarthyism became known in the United States.
b. Most people who were blame for being communists were actually not. They suffered consequences such as going on public trials and career ended as no one wants to work with a communist.
c. There were many anti-Communist committees, panels, and "loyalty review boards" in federal, state, and local governments, as well as many private agencies that carried out investigations for small and large companies concerned about possible Communists in their work force.

3) Why I Chose This Source
I chose this source because it's reliable. It also provide both primary and secondary sources.

NAME: Kevin Biro
Headline:
Communism-The Great Fear
Link:
http://www.funfront.net/hist/europe/coldwar.htm
1. Quality of source
This is a quality source because it breaks down aspects of the Cold War piece by piece. It focuses in on the expansion of the Soviet Union in Europe and the fear of communism towards the U.S.A.
2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source
a. The Berlin Blockade was an act of trying to spread communism to Berlin. By blocking all uses of travel and starving the nation of Berlin, the hope that all would give up and turn to the only answer of communism. The US feared that losing Germans to the Soviets would only make their empire stronger. The US responded to the blockade with the Berlin Airlift.
b. The spread of communism to Eastern Asia became an increasing fear for the US. The People's Republic, under Mao Zedong, was proclaimed in China. This Communist triumph was a great shock to the United States. The Communist influence seemed to have extended into the very heart of Asia and onto the doorstep of occupied Japan. The sheer physical size of Soviet Russia and China, and of their combined populations, gave a double threat to the American policy of containment. Communism also continued into Korea as the North had been claimed by the Soviets and the South by the US.
c. With the fear of communism continuing to grow, it was time for action to take place. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (N.A.T.O.) was created in order to contain communist expansion.
3. Why I Chose this Source
a. I chose this source because it discussed the fear of the Soviet Union and communism and how it affected the US. The article also continues on to discuss on how the United Sates would take action on the Soviet and get allies on their side.



NAME: Robbie Schiersmann

Headline:

Define Imperialism

Link:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/imperialism

1. Quality of source

This source is the official dictionary site copyrighted by Lexico,and works accordingly with Google to provide the most accurate information available.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source

a. Imperialism is the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies.

b. Imperialism is used in according to a country's national interest, weather it be for the natural resources on the territory or from the taxes it could collect from being used as a trading post.

c. An example of Imperialism could be that of the British expansion into India, China, Africa or the Western World.

3. Why I Chose this Source

a. I chose this source because of the simplicity of information that was available, as compared to other sources.



NAME: Cailin Purvis
Headline:Communism Within the United States of America

Link:
John F. Kennedy - http://www.history.com/topics/joseph-mccarthy/videos#kennedy-communism-within-the-us
Richard Nixon - http://www.history.com/topics/joseph-mccarthy/videos#nixon-communism-within-the-us
1. Quality of source
This source is a televised debate between John F. Kennedy (at the time, a Senator from Massachusetts) and Richard Nixon (at the time, President Eisenhower's Vice-President) from the 1960 presidential election. Both are asked to respond to the question "Just how serious a threat to our national security is Communists' subversive activities in the United States today?" and both Kennedy and Nixon's responses reveal how the majority of Americans felt about Communism.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source
a) Both candidates believed that Communism was a serious threat and that protective measures should be taken against it.
b) Laws were passed in the United States to stop the spread of Communism.
c) It sounds as if America was paying a great deal of attention to the spread of Communism worldwide, and it is clear that Communism was a big issue in the United States at the time seeing as it was the subject of presidential debates.


3. Why I Chose this Source
I chose this source because how politicians speak about issues usually reveals that country's attitudes towards those issues.


Group 2

Ideological Differences


Find quality sources on these items:

authoritarianism vs. democracy, communist economics vs. capitalism, communist revolutionary ideals



NAME: Tyler Roy
Headline:

Build up to the Cold War

Link:

http://www.johndclare.net/cold_war3.htm

1. Quality of source

This site is a quality source because it shows the causes that build up to the Cold War. The site also contains primary and secondary sources that portray the problems that lead to the war.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source

a. The problem with the Soviets and the Americans was that the USSR was a communist state which the U.S. did not support. The U.S.A believed in capitalism which allowed freedom for the people.

b. An important aspect of this source was that the U.S. and Britain tried to end the Russian Revolution which the Russians didn't appreciate. Likewise, the U.S. and Britain didn't like the fact that Russia signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.

c. After World War 2, Russia wanted plenty of land in Eastern Europe but Britain and America thought they shouldn't get that much land and that they would be a threat later on.

3. Why I Chose this Source

I chose this source becuase it did a good job covering the points that ultimately led to the Cold War between the Soviets and the Americans. There were also multiple sources that were either primary or secondary that could be relied upon. The information wasn't long but was able to summarize all of the info needed. This made it easy to read and understand.


Name: Tristan Forseth

Headline:

Ideological Differences between the U.S.S.R and the U.S.A during the Cold War

Link:

http://www.funfront.net/hist/europe/coldwar.htm

1. Quality of source
This source is reliable because it provides primary and secondary sources that help you build a better understanding on the build up to the Cold War. This site is also a quality of source because it gives an in depth summary of the events and causes that lead to the Cold War.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source

A) The United States supported Capitalism, which is a government system elected by the people. The people can also form political parties to voice their political opinion. In the Soviet Union, the government is formed by the communist party. The people cannot form their own political parties to voice their political opinion.

B) With the spread of Russian influence in Europe, America became weary of the spread of communism. The Soviet Union wanted to isolate themselves from western influences because it could erode the strength of the totalitarian regime. America wanted to encourage free trade around the world. Due to these differences, it built tension between the U.S and Soviet Union.

C) To provide immediate conflict between the U.S and Soviet Union, President Truman declared the Truman Doctrine and launce the Marshall Plan.

3. Why I Choose this Source

I chose this source because it provides an elaborate summary of the events that lead to the Cold War and it covered the ideological differences between the Soviet Union and the United States very well.




Name: Jenika Lindsay
Headline: Tensions behind different ideologies contributed to the Cold War
Link: http://www.johndclare.net/cold_war3.htm
1. Quality of source
The source is reliable because it contains information from both primary and secondary sources about how the U.S.S.R and U.S.A’s different ideologies lead to the cold war.

2. Most Important informational aspects of this source
a. The Soviet Union was a Communist country, which was ruled by a dictator and put the needs of the state ahead of personal human rights. The USA was a capitalist democracy which valued freedom and feared Communism.
b. They both believed that the alternative ideology was a threat to their own way of life, and their conflicting beliefs invaded and affected their foreign policies.
c. These resentments were part of the underlying ideological gulf between the two sides, but they also provided weapons in the propaganda war which both sides waged against each other. Because they were so different, each side saw each event differently, and believed they were in the right. Every action they took made them hate each other more.

3. Why I chose this Source
I chose this source because it made the different ideologies between the U.S.S.R and the U.S.A very clear and easy to read. The primary sources such as quotes and charts and the secondary sources such as cartoons exemplified the fact that to two sides could not find a middle ground, hence the Cold War.

Name: Mercedes Blanchard
Headline: Origins of the cold war
Link: http://library.thinkquest.org/C0112205/coldwar.html

1. This source is of good quality, the information accurate and easy to read, it is a site describes as “a site for students by students.”
2. a) One of the main causes of the cold war was the ideological differences between the Soviets and the Americans.
b) The Soviets wanted to have a “buffer zone” to guard themselves from future invasions and Capitalism.
c) The West feared communism just as much as the east feared Capitalism, there was a mutual distrust and suspicion between the two.
3. I chose this source because it was accurate and covered all the points regarding the causes of the Cold War between the Soviets and the Americans. The site was easy to read, though it was a little long.















Group 3

Strategic Concerns


Find quality sources on these items:

Soviet influences in (choose one): Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Finland.

US influences via the Marshall Plan


Angelina Gastaldello
Headline:

Can he block it?

Link:

http://www.johndclare.net/cold_war8.htm

1. Quality of source

The source is said to come from The New York Times. The New York Times is a respected newspaper around the world.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source

  • Stalin is trying to stop the Marshall Plan from happening.

  • The Marshall Plan is trying to help European countries recover.


  • If European countries accept the Marshall Plan than they can't be communist.

3. Why I Chose this Source

I chose this political cartoon because it had to do with basketball, which is my favourite sport.


Name: Sophie Marshall

Headline: Marshall Plan Protects Against Communism

Link: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/366654/Marshall-Plan

1. Quality of Source Encyclopedia Britannica is a respected encyclopedia. It is regarded as the most scholarly of encyclopedias.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source

  • The Marshall Plan was designed to help restore the economies of European countries in order to create stable democratic governments.
  • The US was afraid that the poor economic conditions in Europe would lead to the countries becoming Communist.
  • Although some countries under Soviet influence did not participate in the plan, it was very successful and the countries that received money from the Americans experienced improvements in their economies.

3. Why I Chose This Source
It appeared to be a reliable source with a lot of useful information that was relevant to the topic.

Name: Brayden Eriksen
Headline
Acts of desperation put an end to Communist expansion.

Link:
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Cold-war/Marshall-Plan.htm

1) Quality of the Source.

This source explains the strategical side of the Marshall plan. It is very trustworthy and reliable as it comes well equipped with a copyright disclaimer. This page is also a copyright of James Paul & Martin Spirit, All Right Reserved. People who view this page also have the option to share the information over some of todays best social media websites including facebook, twitter and myspace. In comparison to other websites, this page is appealing and agrees with other reliable sources.

2) Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source.

a. The US feared that the economic struggles and post war era in Europe would lead people to accept and appeal to Communism.
b. The financial aid was originally offered to almost every European country, even the ones who were under military influence of the USSR.
c. The Marshall Plan was so successful that it was used again later on for less developed countries. A few countries in Western Europe actually experienced a rise of 15-25% for their gross natinoal products after the plan was put into place.

3) Why I Chose This Source.
I chose this source because compared to the websites that I visited prior, there was plenty of information and it showed its copyright disclaimer. I also found the information easy to understand and the few photos were very relevant to the topic. As well as their own information, they also cited that they attained information from the enyclopedia which is very reliable.

Name: Connor Moore

Headline: American cooperation with non comunist Europe.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUd2W6aMng4

1. Quality of source.
This source depicts the American aproach to solving comunism in Europe. It is authored by William Lambers who has written many books including "Nuclear Weapons,"The Road to Peace," "The Spirit of the Marshall Plan: Taking Action Against World Hunger, School Lunches for Kids Around the World."
His writings have been published by the Chicago Sun-Times, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Cincinnati Enquirer, The New York Times, the Bakersfield Californian, the Wichita Eagle and the History News Network.

2. Important aspects of this source.
a. This source tells us how the Americans aided western non cominust Europe by giving money to any non comunist country that wanted it.
b. It shows how the US wanted stop the progression of the comunist party
c. It also shows the risk the Americans took by putting up all that money and also the responsibility they had of recogonizing that they were the only country in the world at the time that could help rebuild and save Europe from the comunist party.

3.Why I chose this source
The reason why I chose this source was because it showed footage of Marshall himself pitching his idea to congress which I thought was a very authentic source. I also chose this source because no one has yet posted a video and I wanted to do something different.


Name: Burcu Ören
Headline: The Truman Doctrine
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgM1zBiHb-E&feature=related

1.Quality of source
The source is from a student, who did a power point presentation and upload it in youtube. She also used pages like (http://www.trumanlibrary.org/ http://www.johndclare.net/) to be accurate in her presentation.

2. Most important informational aspects of this source
-Greece was in the middle of civil war after WWII.
-Britain helped the Greece against communist.
- Britain withdrew its aid to Greece and the United States took over, by giving the Truman Doctrine speech.
-The United States felt responsible to help Greece and Turkey from turning to a communist government
- The two countries resist turning into a communist party.

3. Why i choose this source
I chose this source, because I specially searched about the Soviet influence in Greece and I think this video represents Greece, during the Cold War. I also like to watch and listen, when I learn something (new), so I chose to have a Power Point Presentation.


NAME: Danielle Waters

Headline:

1948-1951: European Recovery Program

Link:

**http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/366654/Marshall-Plan**

1. Quality of source

Britainnic.com is an online encyclopedia. It lists all the sources used to write their article. It also lists additional and related information relative to the topic.

2. Most Important Informational Aspects of This Source

a. The US sponsored 17 western/ southern European countries to help create a stable condition in which the democratic institutions would survive. The US felt that if a country was struggling they would be more likely to fall into a communist dictatorship.

b. In order to help restore industrial and agricultural production, expand trade and establish financial stability the US contributed $13 billion plus worth of economic aid.

c. The Marshall Plan was tremendously successful and the European countries that it help experienced a rise of 15-25% in their gross nation products.

3. Why I Chose this Source

a. I chose this source because I felt that it did a good job listing its sources. It also provided the reader with additional information, for if they chose to search deeper into the topic.

Name: Keeley Campbell

Headline: Tito to the rescue

Strategic concerns:
Soviet influences in Yugoslavia
Link:
http://www.funfront.net/hist/europe/coldwar.htm

  1. Quality of Source
The fun front stems from a website called thecorner.org; this site states that it is used for the teachers and students of history. This website is licensed under a creative commons license and has a copy right.

  1. Most important informational aspects of this source
Refer to (2) Soviet Control of Eastern Europe, Paragraph 5
This paragraph talks about the Soviet Union trying to control Yugoslavia the same way they control other eastern European countries. It goes on to say that Yugoslavia wasn’t under control of Nazis with help of a “local communist partisan movement” controlled by Tito. It follows with how the Soviet Union tried to create conflict that would force the Yugoslavians to reach out for help, which didn’t work.

  1. Why I chose this source
I chose this source because it seemed to be very informational yet was informal enough to understand the basic concepts. Also, it showed the information that gave you the resources to amplify your learning.